Knock-down shelving assembly



y 1964 A. c. CHRISTENSEN KNOCK-DOWN SHELVING ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1962 m N H RI \w m mu u y 1, 1954 A. c. CHRISTENSEN KNOCK-DOWN SHELVING ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1962 July 1964 A. c. CHRISTENSEN KNOCK-DOWN SHELVING ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 21, 1962 United States Patent Ofi ice 3,14l,4i23 Patented July 21, 1964 3,141,423 KNOEK-DOWN SHELVING ASSEMBLY Ahlman C. Christensen, 2526 N. 52nd St., Phoenix, Arm; Julia M. Christensen, executrix of said Ahlman C.

Christensen, deceased Filed May 21, 1962, Ser. No. 196,122 7 Claims. (Cl. 108-111) This invention relates to a shelving assembly and in particular to a knock-down shelving assembly which is of a character to be easily assembled and disassembled with a minimum of effort.

It is one of the purposes of the invention to provide a construction which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture because the basic components are few in number.

The knock-down shelving assembly of the invention is simple to assemble and disassemble because of the interchangeable character of the basic components. Pins are em loyed to maintain the components of the shelving assembly of the invention in position. Although the pins are preferably removably located they amply serve their purpose. Pins are employed to obviate the need for grooving the shelves and then interfitting one component into the other.

It is also a purpose of the invention to provide a construction which is structurally sound and which at the same time requires a minimum amount of materials of construction.

It is also a purpose of the invention to provide a shelving assembly which is compact and easy to transport in the disassembled state.

It is another purpose of the invention to provide a knock-down shelving assembly having spacing and supporting members only a portion of which are in vertical alignment. This, for example, enables the shelving assembly to be provided with a larger base portion while still employing the basic concepts of the invention.

In one embodiment of the invention a pair of sliding doors is employable to enclose the base portion of the shelving assembly.

In the diagrammatic drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the shelving assembly of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the shelving assembly of the invention shown in FIGURE 1 but showing a lesser number of shelves;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross-section, showing the manner in which a back portion and a related side portion of a spacing and supporting member of the emobdiments of FIGURES 1 and 2 are connected;

FIGURE 4 is an elevation view showing the two forms of pins employed in the embodiments of FIGURES 1, 2,

.and 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross-section, of a shelving assembly like that shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 but showing a modified form of pin for the top shelf.

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of another embodiment of the shelving assembly of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is an exploded view of the shelving assembly of the invention shown in FIGURE 6 but showing a lesser number of shelves;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross-section, showing the manner in which a back portion and a related side portion of a spacing and supporting member of the embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7 are connected;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the shelving assembly of the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation view of the shelving assembly shown in FIGURE 9; 1

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1111 of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the manner in which a pair of sliding doors is mounted for sliding movement.

Throughout the specification like reference characters are employed to designate components having the same function, construction and relative location.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 4 of the illustrative drawings, there is shown a knock-down shelving assembly generally indicated at 20. The shelving assembly 20 of the invention is shown to in clude a plurality of vertically spaced shelves 21.

Spacing and supporting members 22 and 23 are shown to be disposed in vertical alignment at each marginal end 24 and 25 of the shelves 21. Each of the spacing and supporting members 22 and 23 are preferably of uniform vertical length, as shown, and are disposed between each next adjacent shelf 21. The lowermost spacing and supporting members 22a and 23a are shown to be substantially shorter in length than the other spacing and supporting members 22 and 23 so that the lowermost shelf 21 is spaced slightly upwardly from the surface S on which the shelving assembly 20 is supported. This provides easy access for cleaning the supporting surface S below the lowermost shelf 21. Each spacing and supporting member 22 includes a back portion 26 and a side portion 27, while each spacing and supporting member 23 includes a back portion 26' and a side portion 27'. Similarly, the spacing and supporting member 22a includes a back portion 26a and a side portion 27a, while the spacing and supporting member 23a includes a back portion 26b and a side portion 27b. The spacing and supporting members 22, 23, 22a, and 23a have the side portions 27, 27', 27a, and 27b joined to their related back portions 26, 26', 26a and 26b generally medially and perpendicularly to form a T.

As best shown in FIGURE 2 of the illustrative drawings, the spacing and supporting members 22 and 23 and 22a and 23a, and the shelves 21 are shown to be connected by pins 28 and 29. As best shown in FIGURE 4 of the illustrative drawings, the pin 28 is shown to be a headed pin the terminal end of which is preferably tapered as indicated at 30, while the pin 29 is shown to be a pin which is preferably tapered at each end as indicated at 31 and 32. The tapered end 30 of each pin 28 and the tapered ends 31 and 32 of each pin 29 aid in the manual insertion thereof by finger pressure alone into holes into which they fit. Because the ends 30 and 31 and 32 of the pins 28 and 29 are tapered they are easily inserted into their respective holes. Consequently, only a very slight clearance is provided between the pins and their respective holes. Because the pins 28 and 29 are rigid and because they fit into their respective holes without excessive clearance they act to maintain the shelves 21 at right angles to the spacing and supporting members 22 and 23 even when the shelves are loaded with books and the like. One pin 28 is shown to connect each back portion 26 to a related or respective side portion 27; one pin 28 is shown to connect each back portion 26' to a related side portion 27; one pin 28 is also shown to connect the back portion 26a to the related side portion 27a; and another pin 28 is shown to connect the back portion 26b to the related side portion 27b. As best shown in FIGURE 3 of the illustrative drawings there is provided a hole 33 in the back portion 26 and a hole 34 in the side portion 27 into which the pin 28 fits.

Each of the shelves 21 is shown to have holes 35 at each marginal end 24 and 25. correspondingly, each back portion 26 and its related side portion 27 and each back portion 26 and its related side portion 27 are shown to have holes 36 at each end which are vertically aligned with each other and which are also vertically aligned with the holes 35 in. the shelves 21. The back and side portions 26a and 27a and 26b and 27b, respectively, have aligned holes 36 at only their upper ends which are vertically aligned with holes 35 in the lowermost shelf 21 and the holes 36 in the lowermost spacing and supporting members 22 and 23.

The holes 35 are shown to traverse the shelves 21, while the holes 36 are shown to extend into, that is, penetrate into, the ends of the back and side portions 26 and 27 and 26' and 27' of the spacing and supporting members 22 and 23. The holes 36 in the back and side portions 26a and 27a and 26b and 27b extend into, that is, penetrate into, the spacing and supporting members 22a and 23a at only the upper ends thereof. The holes 35 and 36 are essentially blind holes in that they extend only a limited distance. Each pin 29 is slightly shorter than the combined extend of each hole 35 and aligned holes 36 in adjacent ends of next adjacent spacing and supporting members 22 and 23 and 22a and 23a so that there is a slight clearance between the upper tapered end 31 of the pin 29 and the hole 36 into which it fits.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGURE of the illustrative drawings, the uppermost shelf 21 does not have holes which traverse the shelf 21, but rather holes 37 are provided which extend into, that is, penetrate into the uppermost shelf 21. Each pin 38 extends into each hole 36 in the uppermost spacing and supporting members 22 and 23 and each aligned hole 37 in the uppermost shelf 21.

Referring now to the embodiment indicated generally at 20A in FIGURES 6 through 8 of the illustrative drawings, wherein the only basic difference is in the arrangement of the spacing and supporting members, there are shown spacing and supporting members 40 and 41 and 40a and 41a. Each of the spacing and supporting members 40 and 41 are preferably of uniform vertical length, as shown. A back portion 42 and a side portion 43 and a back portion 42 and a side portion 43 of each spacing and supporting member 40 and 41, respectively, are arranged to form an L. Similarly, a back portion 42a and a side portion 43a and a back portion 42b and a side portion 43b of the spacing and supporting members 40a. and 41a, respectively, are arranged to form an L. The side portion in each case is joined to a marginal end M of the back portion.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGURES 9 through 12 of the illustrative drawings, there is shown a shelving assembly generally indicated at 20B. The shelving assembly 20B includes a base portion 50 and a top portion 51. The top portion 51 is basically constructed of T-shaped spacing and supporting members 52 and 53 which are constructed and connected identically to those of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 4 of the illustrative drawings. The base portion 50 is basically constructed of L-shaped spacing and supporting members 54 and 55 which are constructed and connected identically to those of the embodiment of FIGURES 6 through 8 of the illustrative drawings. T-shaped spacing and supporting members 54a and 55a, constructed and arranged like spacing and supporting members 22a and 23a, are disposed below a lowermost shelf 21b.

Shelves 21a of the top portion 51 are somewhat smaller in their longitudinal and transverse dimensions than shelves 21b of the base portion 50. The spacing and supporting members 52 of the top portion 51 each have a back portion 56 and a side portion 57, while the spacing and supporting members 53 each have a back portion 56 and a side portion 57'. The spacing and supporting members 54 of the base portion 50 each have a back portion 58 and a side portion 59, while the spacing and supporting members 55 each have a back portion 58' and a side portion 59'. The spacing and supporting member 54a has a back portion (not shown) and a side portion 5411, while the spacing and supporting member 55a has a back portion 55b and a side portion 55c.

-jacent uppermost spacing and supporting member.

It is readily apparent that in the embodiment of FIG- URES 9 through 12 of the illustrative drawings that the base portion 50 and the top portion 51 are connected by pins 29 which extend only into next adjacent back portions 58 and 56 and 58' and 56 respectively. The lowermost spacing and supporting members 52 and 53 rest upon the uppermost shelf 21b and are in addition pinned in position by pins 60 (only one of which is shown).

The base portion 50 is of a character to be provided with a pair of sliding doors 61 and 62 which have recesses 63 and 64, respectively, formed therein to provide for easy finger gripping engagement. The sliding door 61 is guided for movement in grooves 65 and 66 in the uppermost and the lowermost shelves 21b, respectively, while the sliding door 62 is guided for movement in grooves 67 and 68 in the uppermost and the lowermost shelves 21b, respectively. The ends of the grooves 65 through 68 terminate short of the terminal ends of the shelves 21b in which they are formed to provide stops S for limiting the movement of the sliding doors 61 and 62. Smooth bearings 69 and 70 are suitably secured in the grooves 66 and 68. The bearings 69 and 70 aid the slidability of the sliding doors 61 and 62 in the grooves 66 and 68. The bearings 69 and 70 are constructable of a smooth plastic having a low coefficient of friction, such as nylon, however, the invention is not limited to any particular type of bearing material. The provision of slidably mounted sliding doors is employable between the shelves in all of the embodiments of the invention.

By way of example, the shelving assembly 20 of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 4 of the illustrative drawings can be assembled by a method now to be described.

A pin 28 is inserted through ahole 33 in the back portion 26a and into the hole 34 in the related side portion 27a to form the spacing and supporting member 22a. In like manner, a pin is inserted through a hole 33 in the back portion 26b and into the hole 34 in the related side portion 27b. Pins 29 are inserted into each of the holes 36 in the back portions 26a and 26b and the side portions 27a and 27b. The holes 35 in the shelves 21 are then placed in alignment with the vertically extending pins 29 and the shelf 21 is lowered so that the upper ends of the pins 36 project through the holes 35 in the shelf 21. Holes 36 in a back portion 26 are then aligned with the upper ends of the pins 29 and the back portion 26 is then lowered until it abuts at its lower end against the shelf 21. Then the hole 36 in the side portion 27 is aligned with the upper end of one pin 29 and the side portion 27 is lowered until it abuts against the shelf 21. A pin 28 is then inserted through the hole 33 in the back portion 26 and into the hole 34 in the related side portion 27, and so on. When the uppermost shelf is ready to be connected to the uppermost spacing and supporting members 22 and 23, the holes 35 in the uppermost shelf 21 are aligned with the holes 36 in the upper end of the uppermost spacing and supporting members 22 and 23. Then each pin 28 is inserted through a hole 35 in the uppermost shelf 21 and its related vertically aligned hole 36 in the upper end of the next ad- It is obvious that other methods of assembling the shelving assembly 20 of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 through 4 of the illustrative drawings are employable. The methods of assembling the shelving assembly of the other embodiments of the invention are also obvious.

The number of shelves and spacing and supporting members is not limited to the number shown, since a lesser or greater number are employable in accordance with the invention. Moreover, the length of the spacing and supporting members in adjacent rows is variable, however, the provision of spacing and supporting members of uniform vertical length as is shown in each of the embodiments of the invention renders the various components less expensive to manufacture and it facilitates assembly.

The number of pins employed is not critical so long as the components are not subject to being rotated about a single pin or displaced after the shelving assembly of the invention has been assembled.

The components of the shelving assembly of the invention are constructable of any suitable rigid materials of construction. For example, the shelves and the spacing and supporting members can be constructed of soft or hard wood, metal, fiber composition or plastic. The pins are preferably composed of a metal such as steel.

The above-described embodiments being exemplary only, it is to be understood that modifications in form or detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited save as is consonant with the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a knock-down shelving assembly, a combination comprising: a plurality of elongated vertically spaced shelves each having opposed marginal ends, vertically aligned adjacent spacing and supporting members interposed between adjacent shelves at each opposed marginal end, each of said spacing and supporting members comprising a back portion and a side portion, a removable pin connecting each back portion to its related side portion, and removable pins traversing each shelf and extending into adjacent spacing and supporting members for retaining said shelves and said spacing and supporting members in position.

2. In a knock-down shelving assembly, a combination comprising: a first elongated shelf having opposed marginal ends, a second elongated shelf having opposed marginal ends and being disposed vertically below said first shelf, a first spacing and supporting member disposed between said first and second shelves at each marginal end, a second spacing and supporting member disposed below said second shelf at each marginal end and being disposed in alignment with a vertically adjacent first spacing and supporting member, each of said spacing and supporting members comprising a back portion and a side portion, at least one hole in upper and lower ends of said back and side portions of said first spacing and supporting members, at least one hole in an upper end of each of said back and side portions of said second spacing and supporting members, each of said holes in each of said side and back portions being vertically aligned, at least two holes in each marginal end of said first and second shelves in vertical alignment with said holes in said back and side portions of said first and second supporting members, a removable pin extending into each hole in said first shelf and each hole in the upper end of said back and side portions of said first spacing and supporting members, and a removable pin traversing each hole in said second shelf and extending into each next adjacent vertically aligned hole in said back and side portions of said first and second spacing and supporting members.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein a pin connects each back portion and its related side portion.

4. In a knock-down shelving assembly, a combination comprising: a plurality of elongated vertically spaced shelves each having opposed marginal ends, vertically aligned adjacent spacing and supporting members interposed between adjacent shelves at each opposed marginal end, each of said spacing and supporting members comprising a back portion and a side portion, a removable horizontal pin connecting each back portion to its related side portion, a single removable vertical pin traversing each shelf and extending into adjacent vertically aligned side portions, and two and only two removable vertical pins traversing each shelf and extending into adjacent vertically aligned back portions.

5. In a knock-down shelving assembly, a combination comprising: a first elongated shelf having opposed marginal ends, a second elongated shelf having opposed marginal ends and being disposed vertically below said first shelf, a first spacing and supporting member disposed between said first and second shelves at each marginal end, a second spacing and supporting member disposed in alignment with a vertically adjacent first spacing and supporting member, each of said spacing and supporting members comprising a back portion and a side portion, at least one hole in upper and lower ends of said back and side portions of said first spacing and supporting members, at least one hole in an upper end of each of said back and side portions of said second spacing and supporting members, each of said holes in each of said side and back portions being vertically aligned, at least two holes in each marginal end of said first and second shelves in vertical alignment with said holes in said back and side portions of said first and second supporting members, a removable pin having tapered ends extending into each hole in said first shelf and each hole in the upper end of said back and side portions of said first spacing and supporting members, a removable pin having tapered ends traversing each hole in said second shelf and extending into each next adjacent vertically aligned hole in said back and side portions of said first and second spacing and supporting members, and a removable pin having a finger engageable head and a tapered end connecting each back portion to its related side portion.

6. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein the uppermost shelf is connected to its adjacent spacing and supporting members by removable pins each having a fingerengageable head and a tapered end.

7. In a knock-down shelving assembly, a combination comprising: a plurality of elongated vertically spaced shelves each having opposed marginal ends, vertically aligned spacing and supporting members interposed between adjacent shelves at each opposed marginal end, each of said spacing and supporting members comprising a relatively short back portion disposed perpendicularly to a side portion, at least three blind holes in each upper and lower end of each spacing and supporting member, each end of each spacing and supporting member having one of said holes in one of said back and side portions with the remaining holes being widely spaced, each of said holes in vertically adjacent spacing and supporting members being vertically aligned, removable pins traversing holes in said shelves and extending into adjacent ones of said blind holes, each pin having opposed tapered ends, horizontally aligned holes in each back portion and its related side portion, and a horizontal removable pin extending into each of said horizontally aligned holes, each horizontal pin having a finger-engageable head and a tapered end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,545 Rozafiy July 14, 1953 3,038,771 Schwartz et a1 June 12, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,269 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1910 257,983 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1949 

1. IN A KNOCK-DOWN SHELVING ASSEMBLY, A COMBINATION COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED VERTICALLY SPACED SHELVES EACH HAVING OPPOSED MARGINAL ENDS, VERTICALLY ALIGNED ADJACENT SPACING AND SUPPORTING MEMBERS INTERPOSED BETWEEN ADJACENT SHELVES AT EACH OPPOSED MARGINAL END, EACH OF SAID SPACING AND SUPPORTING MEMBERS COMPRISING A BACK PORTION AND A SIDE PORTION, A REMOVABLE PIN CONNECTING EACH BACK PORTION TO ITS RELATED SIDE PORTION, AND REMOVABLE PINS TRAVERSING EACH SHELF AND EXTENDING 